A lot of sweet potatoes are found in the supermarkets these days and as the scholar year second term is starting, the Japanese, young and old alike are looking forward to eating traditional desserts made with these tubers.
“Daigaku Imo” in Japanese means “University Potato” as the University students in the Kanda District, Tokyo, were very fond of this dessert back in Taisho Era. The same dessert, which has somewhat disappeared during WWII came into fashion again thanks to the students of the prestigious Tokyo University!

I already have introduced a recipe some time ago, but this is one is more professional (but still easy).
As usual I leave the proportions to your liking!

INGREDIENTS:

Raw sweet potatoes
Oil
Black sesame seeds

Water
San-ontou sugar/三温糖 (if not available use red sugar or brown sugar)
Mizuame/水あめ/”Water sugar” (if not available use corn syrup)

RECIPE:

Clean the sweet potatoes thoroughly.

Better than a knife use a vegetable peeler to peel all skin.

Make sure not to leave any skin or “eye”. Clean rapidly in water.

Cut to bite size and clean in new water.

Important tip. Cut the sharp edges away. The potato will not crumble when being deep-fried and the “bite” will be improved!

In a proportion of 1 for water and 2 for sugar, heat until sugar has completely dissolved stirring all the time.

Check that the oil is at 170 degrees Celsius and deep-fry a second time until the sweet potatoes have attained a nice “fox brown” color.
leave them on a piece of kitchen paper for a while to absorb excess oil.
Place on a place and pour plenty of syrup over them.
Sprinkle black sesame seeds liberally and serve!

Point:

Proceed with the first deep-frying first.
Deep-fry them a second time only when you are ready to eat them.
Deep-frying in two will give you crisp potatoes!
Re-heat the syrup if necessary although this dessert can be appreciated at any temperature!

Takuan in Japan is usually eaten at the end of the meal with rice and miso soup, but there are ways to accomodate it Western-style!
Here is a suggestion for a cold pasta recipe for a light refreshing dish during the summer heat.
As for a vegan version use vegan pasta!

Boil the pasta to your liking in 2 liters of water and 1 tablespoon of salt.

Prepare aside the takuan and cucumber (small and crunchy Japanese style) cut into thick filaments and salted konbu seaweed.

Transfer the boiled pasta into a bowl full of icy water.
Drain well.

In a bowl drop the pasta, takuan, cucumber and seaweed and mix well.
Note: Use your imagination if you want to add taste and seasoning but keep in mind you don’t need any more salt!
Suggestions: sesame oil, umeboshi meat, gomadare/sesame dressing, etc.

Sweet potatoes or Satsuma Imo/薩摩芋 were introduced a long time ago in Japan where they became a mainstay vegetable in winter, especially in the west of Japan where they supplemented rice as a staple food.
Daigaku Imo/大学芋, literally ‘University Potatoes” have been popular with students for times immemorial as not only as a dessert but also as a great snack. In fact, a lot of people prefer them to fried potatoes!

Peel sweet potatoes.
Cut in long thin slices (thin wedges). Actually cut them into the shape and size of your preference but take in account that the thicker they are, the longer time they will take to fry.
Leave in water for 10 minutes.
Take out of water.
Wipe off all humidity.

Heat oil to 150 degrees. Keep oil shallow enough.
Fry until the sweet potatoes have softened. Do not let them change color then.

Take sweet potatoes out and shake oil off.
Bring the oil to 180 degrees.
Fry the sweet potatoes again until they attain a nice brown color.

While the sweet potatoes are frying pour the water and sugar in a separate pan and heat on a low fire.
Let sugar dissolve completely.
When the rim of the water changes color keep heating gently shaking the pan around. You may use a spatula but proceed gently.
When the syrup has attained a light brown color switch off fire.

Take sweet potatoes out of the oil once cooked. Shake off oil well. Drop the potatoes into a separate bowl.
Add the ground white sesame seeds.
Mix well, taking care not to damage the potatoes.

Coat the potatoes with syrup while hot and let cool down completely inside a recipient slightly coated with oil.

-After having heated the violet sweet potatoes, peel them. Cook inside the microwave oven until soft.
Instead of above and if you have the time, bake the violet sweet potatoes inside their skin at 250 degrees Celsius for 30~40 minutes. This way the sweey potatoes will be sweeter.
In a bowl reduce them into a paste with a wooden spoon/spatula.
Add the maple syrup and mix well.
Make a ball with it and leave aside.

-Warm up soy milk to 40 degrees. Add all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, dry yeast, sugar and salt. Mix well and form a ball. Knead on a working table until smooth.

-add butter and knead. Add black sesame seeds and mix. Let ferment a first time for 50 minutes at 35 degrees Celsius.

-Wrap violet sweet potato paste ball with the bread dough and let ferment a second time for 30 minutes at 30 degrees Celsius.

-Shape the bread according to preference. Make incisions/cuts across the surface. Humidify it with a water sprayer. bake for 15 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius., or steam it for 15 minutes at 220 degrees Celsius.

-Line a tart mold with the two frozen pie sheets one on top of the other. Fill the middle with weighted beans (used for cooking), leaving only a two-finger rim free. Dry bake for 20 minutes at 230 degrees Celsius.

-While the pie sheets are baking, peel the sweet potatato and cut them into thin strips. Wash the potatoes and drain. Wrap them in aluminum paper and steam for 25 minutes.

Daigaku Imo litterally means “University Sweet Potato”!
This snack/dessert became popular in the 1910’s in the vicinity of kanda in Tokyo where students were queuing at food stands serving them. They made for a hearty, cheap and nutritious food for hungry students, men and ladies alike. In the late 1920’s Tokyo University students were selling for pocket money. In 1940 they were sold by Mikawaya Store.
They are still very popular and are often cooked at homes or in Izakayas!

-Clean the sweet potato and cut into one-bite dices (keep the skin on, it’s full of nutritious ingredients!). Throw them in a large pan. Pour oil on top and fry over a medium fire.

-The oil will heat up until it reaches 170 degrees Celsius. At that time the sweet potato will have attained a golden colour. Take the sweet potato dices out and let them rest on a kitchen paper to take off excess oil.

-Empty the pan of its oil and wipe the indide with kitchen paper and pour the sauce (tare) ingredients into it.

-Simmer over a medium fire. When bubbles appear, throw in the sweet potato dices and toss them until they are well-coate with the sauce.

-Serve hot on a plate with a generous sprinkling of black sesame seeds!

Debra at Hapabento mentioned that she calls her Violet Sweet Poatatoes Okinawa Sweet Poataoes. Actually, Okinawa is famous all over Japan for its Violet Sweet Potatoes/Beni Imo/紅芋 and cakes made with the same!